Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The diagram demonstrates the formation of a rain-shadow desert on one side of the mountain. This formation process involves seven stages.

To begin with, the wind approaches from the sea coast and moves upward. When the moist air rises and cools, it leads to the formation of clouds on the windward side of the mountain. Furthermore, when the clouds get heavy, it starts raining near the peak of the mountain.

Thereafter, the process on the other side of the mountain begins. The dry air continues over the leeward side of the mountain. Soon, the dry winds reach inland areas leading to the formation of a dry desert called the Rain-Shadow desert.

To conclude, the formation involves the wind travelling thousands of kilometers from the sea coast to the inland side of the mountain. Overall, both the windward side and the leeward side are responsible for the composition of the Rain-shadow desert.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response covers the main stages of the rain-shadow desert formation, identifying the windward and leeward sides. However, the description is somewhat simplistic and lacks a clear overview of the process as a whole. While the stages are mentioned, the explanation of the physical mechanisms—such as the cooling of air leading to precipitation and the subsequent warming of air on the leeward side—is underdeveloped. To reach a higher band, you should focus on describing the transformation of the air mass more precisely, ensuring the relationship between altitude, moisture, and temperature is clearly articulated for the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into distinct paragraphs, moving from the windward side to the leeward side. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'Thereafter' are used to guide the reader through the sequence. However, the transition between the final paragraph and the rest of the text is slightly disjointed. The concluding sentence is a bit repetitive and does not effectively synthesize the information presented. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'windward', 'leeward', and 'moist air' used correctly. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic phrasing. For instance, 'the process on the other side of the mountain begins' is quite generic. To improve, you should incorporate more precise scientific terminology related to meteorological processes, such as 'condensation', 'precipitation', or 'arid conditions'. The current lexical range is sufficient to convey the main points, but lacks the sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, 'When the moist air rises and cools, it leads to the formation of clouds' is a well-constructed complex sentence. However, the range of structures is somewhat narrow. To achieve a higher score, you should experiment with more varied sentence patterns, such as using passive voice to describe the formation process (e.g., 'moisture is released as rain') or incorporating more advanced subordinating conjunctions to link ideas more fluidly.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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